Envelope machine



1 (No-Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 1.

E. M. ow.

Y ENVELOPE MACHINE.

No. 556,063.. Patented Mar.

23%?2 G m. Sh 601.

AN DREW HVGRAHAM. PNUTOUTNQWASHI GTOM D c (No Model.) 4 SheetsSheet 2.E. M. LOW.

ENVELOPE MACHINE.

' Patented Mar. 10, 1896.

amuimmn I I' llll wi/tvwooao Q I v a'vwawtoi way/MW MW MM JM/U 3% 4 W(No Model.) I I 4 Sheets-8heet s.

- E, M. LOW.

ENVELOPE MACHINE.

No.556,063. Pat nted'Mar. 10,1896.

chwaskovl'l Jr.

ANDREW B GRAHAM. PHOTB U'IKQWASNINGTDMD C (N6 Model.) 4 Sheets-4110M 4.

E. M. LOW. ENVELOPE MACHINE.

NQ.556,063. V P atented Mar. 10,1896.

UNITED STATES PATENT EEIcE.

EVERETT M. LOIV, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESN EASSIGNMENTS, TO THE WORCESTER ENVELOPE COMPANY, OF SAME PLA CE.

ENVELOPE-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 556,063, dated March10, 1896. Application filed March 6, 1891. Serial No. 383,993. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EVERETT M. LOW, a citizen of the United States,residing at WVorcester, in the county of Vorcester and State ofMassachusetts,have invented certain new and useful Improvements inEnvelope-Machines and I do hereby declare that the following is a full,clear, and exact descriptionof theinvention, which, in connection withthe draw- IO ings making a part of this specification, will enableothers skilled in the art to which my invention belongs to make and usethe same.

My invention relates to envelope-machines, and more particularly to thedrying-chain or endless carrier in which the envelopes are held whilethe gum upon the seal-flap of the folded envelope is drying, and to themechanism for removing the envelopes from the drying-chain to thereceiving-box, and also to the mechanism for counting and bunching theenvelopes into any desired number ready to be banded by the operator.

My invention consists in certain novel features of construction andoperation of the parts of an envelope-machine above referred to, as willbe hereinafter fully described.

I have shown inthe drawings only such parts of an envelope-machine withmy improvements applied thereto as will be suffi- 0 cient to clearlyillustrate the construction and operation of my improvements.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation of anenvelope-machine with my improvements applied thereto taken 3 5 on line00 00, Fig. 2, looking in the direction of arrow a, same figure. Some ofthe parts of the machine are left off for a more clear illustration.Fig. 2 is a front elevation of an envelope-machine, looking in thedirection of arrow 6, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail of the actuatingmechanism of the drying-chain or endless carrier. Fig. 4 is a detailplan of the mechanism for directing the envelopeinto the drying-chainand of the mechanism for seizing and removing the envelope from thedrying-chain into the receiving-box, said mechanism shown at the pointof removing the envelope from the drying-chain. Fig. 5 corresponds toFig. 4, showing the envelope-removing mechanism in the opposite positionfrom that shown in Fig. 4. Fig. 6 corresponds to Fig. 5, showing themechanism for bunching the envelopes in a difierent position from thatshown in Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a side detail of the pusher-slide in thereceiving-box and the counting-finger and its operating-springs. Fig. 8corresponds to Fig. 7, showing the pusher-slide in the act of passingover and depressing the counting-finger'. Fig. 9 is a front detail ofthe mechanism which seizes the envelope to remove it from thedrying-chain, looking in the direction of arrow 0, Fig. 4. Fig. 10 is aview of the bottom of the receiving-box and pusher-slide, looking in thedirection of arrow cl, Fig. 11. Fig. 11 is a side View of the partsshown in Fig 10, looking in the direction of arrow 6, same figure,showing also a portion of the counting mechanism. Fig. 12 is a detail ofthe gearing mechanism which operates the levers of the mechanism whichseizes and removes the envelope from the drying-chain. Fig. 13 is asection on line 3/ y, Fig. 12, looking in the direction of arrow f, samefigure. Fig. 14 is a detail of the operating mechanism of the countingmechanism. Fig. 15 is an end view looking in the direction of arrow g,Fig. 14. Fig. 16 is a detail of the nipping mechanism which nips one endof the envelope to remove it from the dryingchain; and Fig. 17 is asection on line 2 2, Fig. 16, looking in the direction of arrow h, samefigure. Figs. 4 to 17, inclusive, are shown on an enlarged scale.

In the accompanying drawings, 1 is the top or table of the machine, and2 the frame of the machine. Upon the top 1 and the frame 2 are supportedthe several operating parts of the machine. 3 is the main driving-shaftsupported in bearings upon the frame 2, having on one endthedriving-pulley 4, driven by a belt 5 in the ordinary way. On theopposite end of the driving-shaft 3 is fast a gear 6, meshing with anddriving a gear 7 fast on a shaft 8, having a hand-wheel 9 on theopposite end thereof. Said shaft 8 has a cam 10 5 fast thereon foroperating the mechanism which causes the drying-chain 11 to revolve, andalso a cam 12 fast thereon (see Fig. 1) which operates, throughintervening mechanism to be hereinafter described, the pusher- 10o slideand pusher-plate in the envelope-receiving box. A cam 13 is also fast onthe shaft 8, and operates, through intervening mechanism to behereinafter described, the counting and bunehing mechanism.

I will now describe the construction and operation of the drying-chain11 into which the envelopes are dropped from the folding-box and carriedaround in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 1, for the purpose of dryingthe gum on the seal-flap, as is customary in envelopemachines.

The dryingchain 11 is made up of a num ber of metal fingers 11 (only aportion of which are shown in the drawings) constructed and linkedtogether in the ordinary way by wires passing through overlappingsections. The drying-chain 11 is supported and moved around on thetriangular frame 15, which is rigidly supported within the frame of themachine, in this instance, upon the upright stands 16, which aresupported at theirlower ends on the cross-tie rods 17. (See Figs. 1 and2.) The frame 15 is provided with movable sections 18 at its lower endsof any ordinary construetion and operation for regulating the tension onthe drying-chain.

The drying-chain frame 15 at its upper end has a flat surface (see Fig.3) parallel with the bottom of the frame and equal in length to thedistance between the centers of three of the wires of the drying-chain.There is also a flat surface j between the flat surface t' and thesurface 70 of the frame, equal to the distance between two of the wiresof the drying-chain, or one-half the length of the flat surface '11, andat an equal angle with the surfaces 1' and k.

As the drying-chain revolves in the direction of arrow r, and the wirespassing throu h the overlapping sections of the holding-fingers, asabove described, pass over the corners of the angle from the surface 70to the surface j, and over the angle from the surfaeej to the surface 2and over the angle from the surface ito the surface 70f the frame of thedrying-chain, the top of the holding-fingers let are spread apart andcaused to stand in the position shown in Fig. 1, when the envelope isheld between the two upright fingers and the adjacent fingers on bothsides are thrown apart, as shown in said figure. \Vhen the drying-chaincomes to rest in the position shown in Fig. 1, the envelope is removedfrom between the two upright or vertical holdingfingers 11, whileanother envelope drops from the fold ing-box into the space at betweenthe two next forward fingers. The space a between the two next rearfingers is of no special use but said space is a necessary consequenceof the shape of the drying-chain frame above described and of theposition of the other fingers.

The drying chain 11 is driven intermittently by means of two sprockets(not shown) in the ordinary way, within the drying-ehain 11, at itsupper end, and fast on the shaft 19,

within the upper end of said frame. (See Fig. 2.) The sprockets engagethe wires which connect the links of the chain, as is common in saidmechanism.

The shaft 19 has a ratchet 20 fast thereon, operated by a pawl 21,carried on an anglelever 22, loose on the shaft] 9 and operated byalever 23, having a slot 23 therein,through which the shaft 8 extends,and carrying a roll 24 at its lower end, which is operated by a cam 10on said shaft 8. (See Figs. 2 and 3.) A holdfast-pawl 25 is pivoted on astand 26 on the under side of the top of the table, and is adapted tocatch into the teeth of the ratchetwheel 20 to prevent any backwardmotion of said ratchet-wheel. A spring 27 may be used to hold the pawl21 in contact with the teeth of the ratchet 20, (see Fig. 3,) and thespiral spring 27, (see Figs. 2 and 3,) connected at its lower end to theupper end of the eamlever 23, serves to keep the cam-roll 2.4. incontact with its cam 10.

As the drying-chain 11 is revolved intermittently by the mechanism abovedescribed in the direction of the arrow 2:, Fig. 1, the envelopes dropfrom the folding-box into the space an in the drying-chain, and movearound in the drying-chain in the direction of the arrow 1:, Fig. 1,until they reach the space 0 at the top of the drying-chain frame, wherethe holding-fingers 14 are in their upright position, as shown in Fig.1, when the envelopes are removed to the rcceivin g-box 28, arranged onthe right side of the drying-chain, by the mechanism to be hereinafterdescribed.

In order to prevent the envelopes as they fall from the folding-box intothe dryingchain from lodging in the curved portions of theholding-fingers 1.4, I may employ two inclined guide-strips 29 to directthe envelopes, so that they will drop between the holding lingers in theproper manner. The inclined strips 29 extend, one at each side of thedrying-chain, (see Fig. 4,) just outside of the holdin g-fin gers 1.4and in line with them, (see Fig. 1,) so that the ends of the envelopeswhich project beyond the holding-fingers 14. will slide down on thestrips 29 between the holdin g-fingers. The inclined strips 29 are supported at their upper ends and operated in such a manner that they swingout to each side of the drying-chain far enough to allow the envelopesto pass as the drying-chain moves around. The inclined strips29 aresecured, in this instance, at their upper ends to an gle-pieccs 30, (seeFigs. 1 and 4,) and said angle-pieces 30, carrying the guiding-strips29, are moved on the studs or pins 31, supported in arms 32 on the frameof the machine. The angle-pieces are operated to cause theguiding-strips 29 to come together and spread apart, as shown by fulland dotted lines, Fig. -11, by means of the lever 33, connecting saidangle-pieces, and the lever 34:, which is conneeted wi'h and operated bythe swinging arm 35, which operates the removing-slide to be hereinafterdescribed.

The lever 34 has a slot 34' therein to reduce the movement thereof, andis moved in one direction by the swinging arm 35 to move from each otherthe guiding-strips 29, as shown by dotted lines, Fig. 4, and is moved inthe opposite direction to move toward each other the guiding-strips 29,as shown by full lines, Fig. 4, by a spring 36 attached to the end ofsaid lever 34 and to the frame of the machine.

I will now describe the mechanism which removes the envelopes from thedrying-chain after the same have been once carried around therein to thereceiving-box preparatory to counting and bunching.

A slide 37 is supported and adapted to move back and forth in ways 70upon the under side of the table 1 over the upper part of thedrying-chain in a direction at right angles to the axis of revolution ofsaid chain. At the outer end of the slide 37 is a downwardlyprojectinglug 38, the lower end of which is adapted to extend below and over theupper corner of the envelope, as shown in Fig. 9. Attached to the slide37, at the other end of the envelope from the projecting lug 38, is anipping mechanism, which seizes and holds said envelope as it is removedfrom the drying-chain into the receiving-box. The nipping mechanism(shown on an enlarged scale in Figs. 16 and 1'7) consists of thestationary part or jaw 39, extending down from and forming a part of theslide 37, and the movable jaw 40, which is fast on and moves with a pin41 revolving and having its bearing on the downward extension orstationary jaw 39 of the slide 37. The movable jaw 40 is operated by acrank-arm 42, fast on the pin 41, and connections thereto to behereinafter described.

The slide 37 moves out over the drying-chain into the position shown inFigs. 4 and 9. Then said chain moves the distance of one space of theholding-fingers 14, bringing the envelope against thedownward-projecting part or stationary jaw 39 and thedownwardly-projecting lug 38 on the slide 37. The movable jaw 40 thencloses down on the envelope, operated by a spring 38, attached to thelug 38 and the outer end of the crank-arm 42, thus binding the envelopebetween the stationary jaw 39 and the movable jaw 40 by the contractionof said spring, which is not enough to mark the envelope. the propertime to release the envelope by mechanism to be hereinafter described.

After the envelope has been seized by the nipping mechanism, as abovedescribed, the slide 37 moves back over the receiving-box, carrying theenvelope. The movable jaw 40 is now opened to release the envelope andallow the same to drop into the receivingbox, and the slide 37 movesforward over the drying-chain preparatory to removing another envelope,and the operation is repeated.

I will now describe the mechanism for op erating the slide 37 to causethe same to have The movable jaw 40 is opened at a reciprocating motionback and forth over the drying-chain, and also for operating the movablejaw40 to cause the same to be opened at the proper time to release theenvelope.

. The slide 37 is operated by the swinging arm 35, connected at itsouter end with said slide in the manner to be hereinafter described andfast at its inner end on the hub 43 of the bevel-gear 43. The hub ofsaid bevel-gear is supported and turns loosely on the vertical shaft 45,(see Fig. 12,) supported in the frame 46, secured on the under side ofthe top 1 of the envelope-machine. A bevel-gear 47 meshes with anddrives the bevel-gear 43. Said bevelgear 47 is fast on a rocking shaft48 turning in bearings at the lower end of the frame 46. A rocking arm49 is fast at its inner end upon said. rocking shaft 48, and at itsouter end is connected with the cam-lever 50, having a slot therein,through which the driving-shaft 3 extends, and a cam-roll 51 thereon,which is operated by the cam 52, fast on the driving-shaft 3. (See Fig.1.) A spring 54 is secured to the lower end of the cam-lever 50 to keepthe cam-roll 51 in contact with its operating-cam 52. It will thus beseen that the slide 37 is operated to have a positive reciprocatingmotion over and away from the drying-chain by the cam 52, cam-lever 50,rocking arm 49, rocking shaft 48, bevel-gear 47, bevel-gear 43, andswinging arm 35.

The movable jaw 40 is operated to open and release the envelope at theproper time by means of a crank-arm 42, fast on the vertical pin 41,(see Figs. 16 and 17,) on which said jaw 40 is secured, connector 55,lever 56, pivoted at a central portion 57 on the slide 37,

connector 58, attached at one end to said lever 56 and at its'other endto the swinging arm 59, arranged over the swinging arm 35 and secured atits inner end on the vertical shaft '45, supported in the frame 46,before referred to. (See Figs. 12 and 13.) On the lower end of saidshaft 45 is fast a bevel-gear 60, which meshes with the bevel-gear 61loose on the rocking shaft 48, before referred to. A rocking arm 62 isfast to the hub of the beveled gear 61 and loosely supported on therocking shaft 48, and extends out in the opposite direction from therocking arm 49, abovereferred to. (See Fig. 1.)

- To the outer end of the rocking arm 62 is secured the upper end of thecam-lever 63, which has a slot therein through which extends thedriving-shaft 3. The shaft 48 may be fast in its bearings, and both thebeveled gears 47 and 61, and the arms 49 and 62, connected with saidgears, may be supported loosely on shaft 48, if desired. The camlever 63has a cam-roll 64 thereon which engages with and is operated by a cam 65fast on the driving-shaft 3. (See Figs. 1 and 2.) To the lower end ofthe cam-lever 63 is secured a spring 66 to hold the cam-roll 64 incontact with its operating-cam 65. It will thus be seen that the movablejaw 40 is opened at the proper time by means of the cranlearm 4.2,connector 55, lever-56, connector 58, swinging arm 59, vertical shaft15, bevel-gear 60, bevel-gear 61, rocking shaft 48, rocking arm 69,cam-lever 63, cam-roll O-i, and cam 65.

The cams 52 and for operating the slide 37 and movable jaw 10, as abovedescribed, are so formed and so timed relative to each other that theswinging arms 35 and 59 move together, except at the end of the movementof slide 37, and swinging arm 35 in each direction, when an additionalmovement of cam 65 opens the movable jaw 40 at the end of the movementtoward the receiving-box and allows the spring 38 to close it at the endof the movement toward the drying-chain.

The swinging arms 35 and 59 always have the same amount of travel, andthe connec tor 58, which is attached to the outer end of the swingingarm 59, is preferably composed of a rod 58, sliding loosely in a block59 on the end of the swinging arm 59 and having a collar 67 fastthereon. The movable jaw 40 is opened by the swinging arm 59, moving theblock 59 against the collar 67, fast on connector 58, as shown in Fig.at, and said jaw 40 is closed by the spring 38, the block 59' movingaway from collar 67, as shown in Fig. 5.

The envelopes are separated into bunches of any desired number, usuallytwenty-five, in the receiving-box by varying the amount of travel of theslide 37, every alternate bunch being carried about one-half an inchbeyond the preceding one.

I will 11 ow describe the mechanism for varying and controlling theamount of travel of the slide 37 to regulate the bunching of theenvelopes.

The slide 37 has a longitudinal groove (39 in its upper side, out abouthalf-way through at its outer end. (See dotted lines, Fig. 5.) Throughthe top 1 and the ways 70 of the slide 37 extends a pin 7], placed overthe groove 69 in said slide, with its lower end adapted to extend intosaid groove. Said pin 71 has a vertical movement equal to the depth ofthe groove 69, and is operated to be moved into or out of said groove 69to regulate the movement of the slide 37 by the mechanism to behereinafter described. The outer end of the slide 37 has connectedtherewith a block 7 2 about one-half an inch lon Said block moves in theways of the slide 37 and is connected to the slide 37 by a pin 73,extending loosely through the block 72, with its inner end fast in theend of the slide 37. (See Fig. 6.) The block 72 is free to slide on thepin 73, but is pushed and held against the end of the slide 37 by aspiral spring 74 on the outer end of the pin 73, and interposed betweensaid block 72 and the head 7 3 of said pin 73.

The outer end of the swinging arm 35 is attached to one end of theconnector 75, and the other end of said connector is attached to theblock 72, so that when the vertical moving pin 71 drops into the groove69 in the upper surface of the slide 37 to limit the motion of the slide37 to form one bunch of envelopes the slide 37 can only move until theend of the groove (39 strikes the pin 71, as shown in Fig. (S, and theadditional movement of the swing ing arm 35, connected to the slide 37through connector 75, block 72, and pin 73, as above described, is takenup by the block 7 2, moving away from the end of the slide 37, andcompressing the spring 74 on the pin 7 3, as shown in Fig. 6. Then thevertical pin 71 is raised up out of the groove 69, the slide 37 is freeto move out over the receiving-box to the farthest extent of its travel.The spring 74holds the block 72 against the end of the slide 37, asshown in Fig. 5.

The pin 71 is operated by the counting mechanism to be hereinafterdescribed, and is down in engagement with the groove 69 in the slide 37while one bunch of envelopes is being removed to the receiving-box andup while the next is being removed, thus allow ing the bunches to beplaced in the receivingboX in a zigzag line to separate the same.

WV hen the pin 71 is down, so that its lower end engages the groove .69in the slide 37, as shown in Fig. 6, and said slide stops at itsshortest travel, the block 59 on the swinging arm 59 moves away from thecollar (57, and the swinging arm 59 must have movement enough to movethe distance of the space to open the movable jaw 40.

I will now describe the mechanism for push ing the envelopes along inthe receiving-box and for counting the same.

After the envelope has been removed from the drying-chain to thereceiving-box by the slide 37, and the nipping mechanism carried by saidslide above described, the movable jaw 40 opens, releasing the envelope,which then stands in the receiving-box in front of the pusher-plate 7(3. (See Fig. 11.) As the movable jaw 40 opens, the pusher-plate 7 0moves forward, (operated by mechanism to be hereinafter described,)pushing the envelope against the counter-finger 77, which is pivoted onthe lower side of the receivingbox 28, (see Figs. 10 and 11,) andpushing said finger through a slot in the bottom of the receiving-boxbelow the surface of the bottom 28 of said receiving-box, as shown inFig. 8, where it is held by the tension of the spring 78, which issupported on a rod 78 and attached at one end to an arm 79, secured onthe slide 80, which carries the pusher-plate 76, and at the other end tothe counter-finger 77 at such a point, as 79, that when the envelopepushes the counter-finger 7 7 downward to pass over it, as shown in Fig.8, the point where the spring 78 is attached to said counter-finger isbrought below the center 81, on which the counter-finger is pivoted. Thecounterfinger is moved down .the remainder of its travel by theexpansion of the spring 78, and is held down by said spring until a lip82 on the slide 80, which carries the pusher-plate 76, passes under apin 83 onthe counter-finger, which prevents it being drawn up by thespring 84, which exerts a tension in the opposite direction from spring78, and is attached at one end to the arm 79 on the slide and at theother end to the counter-finger 77 below the center on which thecounterfinger turns.

When the slide 80 and pusher-plate 76 thereon are only moved far enoughto press the envelope against the counter-finger and move it down farenough for the spring 78 to act on it, the spring 84 is loose and exertsno tension, as shown in Fig. 8; but as the slide 80 moves forward stillfarther, carrying the pusher-plate beyond the counter-finger, the spring78 loses its tension, and the spring 84 gains its tension; but it cannotraise the counter-finger until the slide 80 has traveled nearly to itsfull extent, when the lip 82, on the lower side of the slide at the rearthereof, passes beyond the pin 83 on the counter-finger 7 7. Then thespring 84 acts to pull the counterfinger up, as shown in Fig. 7. Afterthe envelope has been pushed forward, the slide 80, carrying thepusher-plate 76, returns to its first position, the counter fingerpassing through a slot 85 (see Fig. 2) in said pusherplate. When noenvelope is pushed forward by the pusher-plate 76 carried on the slide80, the counter-finger 77 passes through the slot 85 in the pusher-plate and is not pushed downward to operate the counting mechanism tobe hereinafter described, and therefore no count is made.

I will now describe the mechanism for operating the slide 80 and thepusher-plate 76 carried thereon, said slide moving in ways 81 on thebottom of the receiving-box, as shown in Fig. 10.

A connector 86 is pivoted at one end to the lower surface of saidslide80, and is pivoted at its other end to the upright lever 87, pivoted atits lower end at 88 on a bracket or arm 89, secured on the under side ofthere ceiving-box. To the lever 87 is pivoted one end of a cam-lever 90,having a slot therein, through which the shaft 8 extends, (see Fig. 1,)and a cam-roll 91 thereon, which engages with and is operated by a cam12, fast on the shaft 8. A spring 91, (see Fig. 1,) attached to theupper end of the lever 87 and to the receiving-box, serves to keep thecam-roll 91 in contact with its operating-cam 12. The revolution of thecam 12, through cam-roll 91, cam-lever 90, lever 87, and connector 86,causes the slide 80, carrying the pusher-plate 76, to have areciprocating motion back and forth. The extent of said motion iscontrolled by the shape of the cam 12.

I will now describe the mechanism for counting the envelopes, which isoperated by the counter-finger 77.

When the counter-finger 77 is moved down by a passing envelope, pushedalong by the pusher-plate 76, as above described, the projecting portion7 7 strikes the end of the pawl 92, pivoted on the upper end of theanglelever 93. (See Figs. 1, 11, and 14.) The anglelever 93 is looselysupported on a shaft 94, which has its bearing in the lower end of armsor hangers 95, secured on the under side of the receiving-box. (See Fig.1.) A ratchet 96 is fast on the shaft 94, and its teeth are adapted tobe engaged by the projecting point 92 of the pawl 92 when the same ispressed down by the counter-finger 77 A spring 97 is attached to thepawl 92 and to the angle-lever 93 to hold said pawl out of engagementwith the ratchet 96 when said pawl is not operated by the counter-finger7 7 Upon the lower end of the angle-lever 93,0pposite from the pawl 92,is a cam-roll 98, adapted to engage with and be operated by the cam 13,fast 011 the shaft 8. When the pawl 92 is moved down by the action ofthe counterfinger 77 into engagement wit-h the ratchet 76, said pawl ismoved, through angle-lever 93 and cam 13, far enough to move the ratchet96 a distance of one tooth. The ratchet 96 will have fifty teeth forcounting bunches of twenty-five, or twenty-four teeth for countingbunches of twelve, and said ratchet will be moved one tooth everyrevolution of the cam 13, provided the pawl 92 is operated by thecounter-finger 77 to engage said ratchet 96. The spring 97 holds thepawl 92 out of contact with the ratchet 96 to prevent the revolution ofsaid ratchet and the count of an envelope when the counterfinger 77 isnot moved down by the non-passing of an envelope, as above stated.

On the shaft 94, carrying the ratchet 96, at the outer end of saidshaft, is fast a cam 99, which has one half of its circumference cutdown lower than the other half. Working on said cam and operated therebyis a roll 100, supported on the lever 101, pivoted at one end on the armor hanger 95, and having pivoted to its other end the vertical movingrod 102, provided at its upper end with the horizontal arm 103, carryingat its outer end the vertical moving pin 71, the lower end of which isadapted to extend into the groove 69 in the slide 37, as abovedescribed, to regulate the movement of said slide and the bunching ofthe envelopes in the receivingbox, as before described.

The cam 99, fast on the shaft 94, is revolved a distance equal to onetooth of the ratchet 96, every time a count is made, by an envelopepushing down the counter-finger 77 and moving the pawl 92 intoengagement with the teeth of the ratchet 96.

The operation of the counting mechanism above described is as follows:Supposing that the ratchet 96 has fifty teeth therein for the countingof twenty-five envelopes in a bunch, as each envelope is pushed forwardby the pusher-plate 76, as above described, the pawl 92, through theoperating mechanism above described,moves the ratchet 96 the distance ofone tooth. Then twenty-five envelopes have been pushed forward, the cam99, fast on the shaft 94 of the ratchet 96, has moved one-half arevolution, and the roll 100 would be raised from the lowest part of thecam 99 onto its highest part, as shown in Fig. 1, or vice versa, andthrough the lever 101, rod 102, and arm 103 the pin 71 would be lowered,so as to extend into the groove 69 in the slide 87 to limit the movementof said slide to form one bunch of envelopes, or raised out of saidgroove 69 in the slide 37 when roll 100 is on the lowest part of the cam99 to allow said slide to have its greatest movement to form one bunchof envelopes, said pin 71 regulating the bunching of the envelopes, asbefore described.

In case no envelope is pushed forward by the pusher-plate for any reasonthe counting mechanism does not operate; neither does the pin 71,regulating the bunching mechanism, operate.

From the above description, in connection with the drawings, theoperation of my improved mechanisms for directing the envelope in aproper manner into the drying-chain for seizing and removing theenvelope from the drying-chain to the receiving-box, and for pushing theenvelope along in the receivingbox, and for counting the envelopes, andfor separating the same into bunches preparatory to the removal of thesame from the box, and the banding thereof by the attendantwill bereadily understood by those skilled in the art.

It will be understood that I do not limit myself to the details ofconstruction of the several parts of my improvements shown anddescribed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. In an envelope-machine, the combination with the drying-chain, of thedrying-chain frame, having a fiat surface on its top end, and straightinclined surfaces leading from said flat surface to form angles, for thepurpose stated, substantially as set forth.

2. In an envelope-machine, the combination with the drying-chain, of twoinclined guidestrips, to direct the envelopes, so that they will dropbetween the holding-fingers in the proper manner, and means foroperating said guide-strips, substantially as set forth.

In an envelope-machine, the combination with the holding-fingers of thedrying-chain, of two inclined guide-strips, to direct the envelopesbetween said holding-fingers in the proper manner, and means for movingsaid guide-strips apart by a positive motion, to allow the envelopes topass, and moving them toward each other by a springactuatedmotion,substantially as set forth.

at. In an envelope-1naehine, the mechanism for removing the envelopesfrom the dryingchain to the i'eceivingbox, consisting of a slide, havinga downward projection at its outer end, adapted to extend over the outerupper corner of the envelope, and provided with anipping mechanism, tonip and hold the opposite corner of the envelope, and means foroperating said slide, and said nipping mechanism, for the purposestated, substantially as set forth.

5. In the mechanism for removing the envelopes from the drying-chain tothe receivin g-box, the combination with a slide provided with adownward projection at its outer end, to extend over the outer uppercorner of the envelope, and means for operating said slide, of a nippingmechanism supported on, and moving with said slide, and means foroperating said nipping mechanism, to open the same and release theenvelopes by a positive motion, and to close and nip the envelopes by aspring-actuated motion, substantially as set forth.

6. In an envelope-machine, the mechanism for removing the envelopes fromthe dryingchain to the receiving-box, consisting of a slide having areciprocating motion back and forth over the drying'chain, and carryinga nipping mechanism to seize one corner of the envelope, to remove thesame, and to release the envelope, after the same is removed, and meansfor operating said slide, consisting of a swinging arm, and connectionsbetween said arm and slide, and means for operating said swinging arm,consisting of two beveled gears, a shaft, rocking arm, cam-lever, andcam, substantially as set forth.

'7. In an envelope-machine, the nipping mechanism carried on areciprocating slide, which removes the envelopes from the drying-chainto the receiving-box, said nipping mechanism consisting of a stationaryjaw, and a movable jaw, in combination with means for opening saidmovable jaw, consisting of a swinging arm, and connections from saidswinging arm to said movable jaw, and means for operating said swingingarm, consisting of a shaft, two beveled gears, a shaft, a rocking arm, acam-lever, and cam, substantially as set forth.

8. In an envelope-machine, the combination with the slide, to remove theenvelopes from the drying-chain to the receiving-box, of means forvarying the amount of travel of said slide, to separate the envelopesinto bunches, said means consisting of a vertical moving pin, with itslower end adapted to extend into a longitudinal groove in said slide, tolimit the travel thereof, and means for operating said pin, to cause thesame to engage with, or be disengaged from said groove for the purposestated, substantially as set forth.

9. In an envelope-machine, the combination with a slide, to remove theenvelopes from the drying-chain to the receiving-box, of means forregulating the amount of travel of said slide, to separate the envelopesinto bunches, consisting of a vertical moving pin, to extend into alongitudinal groove in said slide, to limit the movement thereof, and tobe moved into, or out of engagement with said groove by a earn, acam-lever, and intervening connections to said pin, substantially as setforth.

10. In an envelope-machine, the combination with the receiving-box, anda pusherslide to move back and forth therein, of a counter-fingeroperated by the envelopes as they are moved forward by the pusher-slide,a pawl .made independently of, and not attached to said counter-finger,and operated by said counter-finger to engage the teeth of aratchet-wheel, and said ratchet-wheel and means for operating said pawl,to cause said ratchet-wheel to revolve and operate the countingmechanism, substantially as set forth.

11. In an envelope-machine, the combination with the receiving-box, apusher-slide to move back and forth therein, and means EVERETT M. LOV.

Witnesses:

JOHN C. DEWEY, 4 OHAs. S. SHORT, Jr.

